West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-11-25
WEST POINT DRILL.
THE CADET AT HIS BEST IN
MOUNTED SERVICE EXERCISES.

The Bugle Blares the Signal Can
noneers Notwithstanding Up to the
work-A Belch of Flame and Thunder
CIoud-Another Signal.
Sharp at the stroke Of 0 the classes are
again in ranks, and the hour of battery drill
has come. The 'plebesn march stiffiy out to
the field guns south of camp; the yearlings
wheeling into column of sections, swing
iauntily off under their detail Of first class
officers to where the battery horses have
already been hitched to the limbers and
caissons out on the cavalry plain, and that
portion of the senior class not required as
chiefs of platoon or section at the field bat
teries is already springing down the winding
path to the @sea coast battery at the waters
edge, and presently you will hear thunder
of great guns that will stun all Orange
county-or would, but for the barriers OF the
massive hills that shut us in on every side.
The liveliest spectacle, however, is here on
the plain, for Of all the drills and exercises In
which the cadet excels he is at his best In
those of the mounted service. Daring horse
men are the youngsters after two years
practice in the riding hall, and light battery
drill is famous place for exhibition.
OFF TO THEIR POSTS.
Watch the boys as they go to their stations.
The seniors, in their riding dress, gauntlets
and cavalry sabers, swing easily into the sad
dies Of the somewhat vicious looking steeds
that are held in readiness for them, adjust
their stirrups, take preliminary and surrep-
titious dig with their spurred heels to test the
mettle of their nags, then clatter off to their
posts to look over the horses and drivers OF
their detachments. The yearlings in their
natty shell jackets stand ready at the guns;
the bugle blares the signal 'cannoneers
mount" and, like so many agile monkeys,
they spring to their seats on the ammunition
chests, and with another bugle blast, and
rumble of hoof and wheel and clink OF trun-
Mon, away goes the battery down the grav-
ely plain.
There are few preliminary moves to warm
them up to their work; the battery comman-
der, young artillery officer who knows his
trade, swings them to and fro, faster and
faster, from one formation to other-column,
line and battery-and then, as though Or
dered to check the advance Of an enemy
swarming up the heights and give him can
mister at short range, with cracking whips
and plunging steeds and rattle and roar Of
hoof and wheel and hoarse throated COM
mands and stirring bugle peals, up the plain
they come at tearing gallop until opposite the
crowd of spectators at the guard tents, when
there is short, sudden blast simultaneous
shout from the "chiefs," a vision Of rearing
horses as the lieutenants and sergeants halt
orally the most picturesque horseman OF the
warlike throng, and always posted on the
flank nearest the ladieS-a flash of sabers IN
the air, sudden "rein in" of the line Of cais-
sons, and gradual settle down to stand,
long before which, nimble as cats, the can
noneers have sprung from their seats and are
streaking it across the gap to where the chiefs
are seated on their excited chargers.
WITH SUDDEN SWIRL.
Around sweep the guns with sudden swirl
that well nigh capsizes them-the three
youngsters on each timber seemingly hang
ing on as though seated on sticking plasters-
there is a rattle and bang of pintle hooks,
hoarse shouts Of "Drive on" to the gun
teams; gray and white forms leap and sway
in and out among the wheels; sponges and
rammers whirl in air; there is belch of
fame, smoke and thunder cloud a believing
roar; another, another-half dozen in quick
succession; a thick sulphurous haze settles
down the plain and envelops the gunners,
and suddenly comes another blare of bugle.
"Cease firing" is the shout, and the mimic
scene Of Buena Vista is over
Even before the smoke has cleared away
another order is given, with prompt, exciting
response; plunging horses, cracking whips, a
rush Of teams, limbers and caissons between
the black muzzles of the guns; a sudden
whirl about of wheels and handspikes, and
the next instant smoke and fame are belch-
ing in thunderclaps over the very ground
where stood the waiting teams only mo-
ment before. Then comes still another sig
nal, slowing away of handspikes and RAM
mers, rapid reinabout of the timber teams,
another blare and away they go, the white
legs of the cannoneers flashing in u race be-
side their bounding guns; rush across the
road to the edge of the grassy level beyond,
another sudden whirl into battery, thunder
ing salute TO the rocky heights to the west,
an echoing roar from the great columbiads
ard PARROTS at the "seacoast" down by the
Hudson, and the Point fairly trembles with
the shock and conclusion. There is no hour
of the day to match the excitement and elan
of that of battery drill.-Charles King, U. S.
A, in Harper's Magazine.